Overview

• Microsoft terminated Anna Hattle, Riki Fameli, Nisreen Jaradat, and Julius Shan following a protest that occupied President Brad Smith’s office.
• The company cited serious policy violations and safety concerns and said it is cooperating with law enforcement, with Bloomberg reporting it asked the FBI for help tracking protests.
• Redmond police arrested seven people during the August 26 sit-in on trespassing and related charges.
• Microsoft reopened an inquiry into media investigations by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call alleging Azure was used to store Palestinians’ phone-call recordings, and it retained Covington & Burling to review the claims.
• The No Azure for Apartheid coalition, composed of current and former workers, condemned the firings as silencing dissent and continues to press the company to end Israel-related contracts and fund reparations.